Method and means for producing foam for fire extinction



May 28, 1935. w. FRIEDRICH METHODANDMEANS FOR PRODUCING FOAM FOR FIRE EXTINCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5. 1933 May 2 8, 1935. W,.FRIEDRIVCH 2,003,184

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING FOAM FOR FIRE EXTINCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1935. v w. FRIEDRICH 2,003,184

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING FOAM FOR FIRE EXTINCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 28, 1935. w. FRIEDRICH 2,003,184 METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING FQAM FOR FIRE EXTINCTIVON le 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 28, 1935. w. FRIEDRIC'H 2,003,134 I I METHOD ANb MEANS FOR PRODUCING FOAM FOR FIRE EIX'IIIXCTION Filed Dec. 5, 19s: 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patenterl May 1935 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- METHOD AND MEANS FOR PBODUCING FOAM 1 R FIRE EXTINCTION I Wilhelm Friedrich, Ber-Iln-Hehterfelde, Germany Application December 5, 193:, Serial No. 101,669 g In Germany December 13, 1932 Claims. (Cl- 261-116) side between the pump and the conduit supply-' ing the water. This foam generator is so constructed that turbulence together with the entry 10 of external airis produced by the water entering under a certain pressure,.with which a foam forming agent (i. e. a chemical substance) has been mixed in any suitable way, this turbulence resulting in the production of foam which is directed to the seat of the fire through hose pipes by means of the fire engine pump. To produce turbulence it is necessary for the water to flow in a thin stream under a certain pressure which however need not be very high (about half an atmosphere will suffice) For fine subdivision of the-water jet it can be led into the auxiliary apparatus in the form of a plurality of separate impinging jets. The jets are directed longitudinally of the generator but they can also be di- 5 rected inclined to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus so that they strike one another and produce violent eddying. The subdivision ca be carried to the fineness of. mist.

It is further necessary for the total cross section of the foam outlet to be many times as great as the cross section of the liquid. inlet. As for the production of foam about 8 to volumes of air are required per volume of water and as the water preferably flows at a greater speed than the airentrained thereby, a'high ratio of crosssection of the air inlet to necessary. I

It has also been found interior. of the foam generator in which the 40 foam is produced to be of conical form narrow-' ing in the direction of flow, so that the air entrained by the jets of water gradually increasesin speed in the direction of flow until at the actual formation of the foam it has reached the speed of the water.

It has also been found by experiments with the apparatus that for good results in foam formation, the properties of the foam forming agent are not unimportant. Byway of example the following foam formers have been found advantageous; sulphonates of fatty alcohols, salts ofthe water inlet is.

advantageous for the pipeof a pressure pump. But in another form it canbeusedasanomle set upontheend of thea hose, the water under pressure supplied by the fire engine pump having the foam, former added at any suitable place. The foam formation then 5 takes place directly in the male at the place of the fire, air being drawn in by the jet of liquid and worked into foam in the nozzle. It will readily be understood that to increase the turbulence it is. desirable to make the nozzle as long as pos- J0 sible since the walls of the nozzle co-operate in the foam formation which is promoted by the turbulence. When a foam generator in the form of a nozzle is used, it is possible to supply a large number of such nozzles with water from a single fire engine and discharge the resulting air foam.

'The foam generator accordingto the invention is extremely simple and it can be constructed in innumerable ways provided the above prescribed requirements are fulfilled namely the formation of fine jets of liquid or atomization of the liquid, 7 the flow of the jet substantially longitudinally or inclined thereto, the admission of air which is entrained by the turbulence of the liquid, and the production of turbulence by means which are further described below.

As regards theopenings for the liquid it has 3 been found that the use of flne,,pointed apertures say of star, cross or the like form are advantageous. Such apertures are particularly efiicient if the material in which they are formed is not too thick so that the jets of liquid in their passage through the apertures are guided only over the shortest'possible length and after such passage can spread.

In place of such star shaped apertures, nar-, row preferably crescent shaped slots can be used which cause the liquid to emerge in the form of thin films or fan-like jets.. 9. -In generators of large 'size it may be of advantage to use several concentrically arranged ge crating chambers. f I A In another embodiment of the foam generator which can be equally well for interposition in a pipe line through which foam is to pass a nozzle, instead of a large number of fine jets of liquid, 9. small number of thicker jets of liquid is used; by causing these jets to strike one another breaking up of the liquid into very I fine particles is effected, foam being "formed with the'air'entrained in the direction of the jets, tire foam in its course drawing intmore air which in creases the foam formation.

- 'Ifhi's'mode 'offoam forination has several 5a.

vantages. The foam can be generated by a supply of water under pressure in a foam tube which at the same time can be constructed as a nozzle for discharging the foam. Jets inclined towards one another strike together in the foam tube, it

. not being necessary for the liquid to flow in the strainers which are liable to be rapidly choked.

. nozzles.

In practice three nozzles directed towards one another at small angles can be used for the liquid supply, with in some cases a fourth central nozzle which lies axially of the tubeand directs a part of the liquid against the vertex of the solidangle formed by the jets from the three inclined When such nozzles are used in this manner, then for example for a foam tube which generates around 1 cubic meter of air foam per minute, four nozzles each of say 4 mm. diameter can be used, so that the mesh of the strainer can be 3 mm.

The foam tube is further constructed so that it can be provided at its discharge end with a bend serving as a pouring head while together with the water supply pipe it can be set upon or coupled to.a long carrying pipe, so that this foam pouring nozzle can be directed by means of the carrying pipe over the edge of a high tank or vessel in order to supply the tank along its wall with air foam. r

A hand foam nozzle can be provided with a multi-way cock and a water nozzle so that by manipulating the cock it is possible to direct water under pressure to the foam nozzle or to the water nozzle, in order to direct either foam or water on to a fire at will.

The invention further extends to the solution of the problem of supplying the foam former to the water under pressure as uniformly as possible and regulatably and of obtaining intimate mixture of the foam former with the water.

The solution of foam former can be mixed with the water under pressure at any desired point in the supply pipe, for example on the suction side of the pump; it can however also be led directly into the foam generator where it mixes with the inflowing water..

Tointroduce the foam former into the main water current before the pump, that is on the suctionside, according to the invention a mixing device is provi ed by which the foam former solution is drawn in by the pump simultaneously with the water and incorporated in the latter.

This device consists of a pipebranch which can" be connected to the water pipe, and which is connected to a suitable container holding. the foam former through a conduit provided with a closing member.

The introduction of foam former solution into the nozzle and its mixing with the'water under pressure therein can according to the invention be effected in various ways; it is essential, firstly that the foam former shall already have been mixedas thoroughly as possible with water and introduced therefore as a solution at a cer-- tain not too high concentration. Thisis important because a highly concentrated foam not at the great speeds at which the mixing takes place in the generator become sufllciently uniformly and completely distributed through the water under pressure.

Secondly according to the invention care must be taken that when the foam former solution is introduced into e generator constructed as a nozzle it' is as E5213, divided as possi' ble so that it can mix as pidly and uniformly as possible with the water entering the nozzle in fine jets.

For this purpose in the foam generator according to the invention in addition to apertures for the entry of water under pressure: there may be one or more separate apertures for the foam former solution.

To introduce the foam former solution into the jets, of water under pressure aspraying nozzle projecting into the foam generator or a plurality of single apertures can be provided which can be constructed in the same manner as the apertures for the water under pressure.

In order to fulfill the first requisite, namely to supply an already thoroughly mixed foam former solution, according to the invention a separate operation is employed which consists in feeding a strongly concentrated foam former solution out of a container by means of water under pressure and a suitable jet apparatus, the solution at the same time being intimately mixed with the WB-s ter and brought to the required degree of 'dilution by a regulating device. This operation has the further advantage that the diluted solution enters the foam generator dispersed under a certain pressure.

To carry out this operation according to the invention, for example a part of the water flowing under pressure can be led through a branch pipe to an ejector connected with the container, where the water uniformly draws the foam former solution off and mixed therewith flows into the foam generator.

According to the invention the container for the foam former solution can be in the form of a haversack which the manipulator of the nozzle can carry on his back. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the nozzle manipulator can independently carry out all the. necessary operations for regulating the production of foam without reference to the space conditions at the seat of the fire and without the help of assistants. He is also in a position by cutting off the supply of foam former to project water instead of foam.

If the foam nozzle is provided with a multi-way cock for the water under pressure, the cock can also serve for shutting oil the foam former. The foam formerfis advantageously supplied through an interior or exterior'nozzle concentric with the water nozzle so that the projecting water Jet draws out the foam former by suction while mixing therewith and projects it into the meeting point where the jets are broken up.

- Some examples of constructions for carrying out the method of'the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the complete foam generator interposed between a hydrant and a pump. x

Figure 2 shows a foam generator in the form of a nozzle, partly in section.

-. Figure 3 shows a detail of the generator of Figure 2 in section on an enlarged scale.

Figures 4 and 5 show diiferent forms of water inlet into the generator, on an enlarged scale in plan.

Figure 6 shows in section a foam generator in former container and devices for feeding and premixing the foam former.

Figure 9 shows a multiple way cock for shutting. off the supply-of'water and foam former, in

' section on an enlarged-scale.

Figure 10 is a section on the line XVI-XVI of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a hand foam nozzle partly in axial section, provided with a suction jet pump for supplying foam former.

Figure 12 shows a hand foam nozzle with multi-way cock, partly in axial'section.

Figure 13 shows a section on the line XVIII- XVIII of Figure 12 seen from above.

Figure 14 shows a foam tube with pouring hea and carrying pipe, in side view.

Figure 15 is a plan view of Figure 14.

Figure 16 shows a series of foam tubes con-' structed as sprinklers and connected'to a single supply pipe, and their arrangement in a chamber.

Figure 17 shows a foam tube constructed as sprinkler partly in section, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 18 shows water pressure pump with an auxiliary device for the admixture of foam former in advance of the pump.

Figure 19 shows another arrangement'somewhat similar to Figure 16 for discharging foam into a closed chamber, for example an oil tank,

Figure 20 is 'a detail of the foam discharging bends used in Figure 19,

Figure 21 is a detail of the control cock,

Figure 22 is a cross section of a further modifled foam generator, and j Figure 23 is a perspective view of'Figure 22. Figure 1 shows the generator I in combination with a pump ll which further works up the entering foam and forces it through the hose l8 from which the foam can be directed. upon a fire through an ordinary plain nozzle. The water is in this case supplied'from a hydrant l9 and led to the generator through a hose 20. The foam former solution isfed from'a container 2| by a suitable suction or pressure device not shown.

The generator shown in Figure 2 consists of a long tube 3i open at both ends and preferably expanding conically towards the inlet end, on which a connection 32 for water under'pressure is arranged. This connection 32 communicates projections 35 with end walls 36. In the end wall 36 of each projection 35 is an aperture for the discharge of water under pressure, as can be seen from Figures 3 to 5. In Figures 3 and 4 these apertures, 31 are star shaped, while in Figure 5 the apertures 38 are of narrow crescent -shape.

In the tube shown in Figure 2 the water -supplied under pressure through the: hose and the connection 32 enters the annularconduit 33 and from thence is projected through the apertures 31 and 38 in spreading jets inclined with respect to the axis -'of the tube into the interior thereof,

where under the action of the turbulence of the .jets upon the air drawn in, foam is formed.

Figure 6' showsa'nother i'ormlofthe foam genmanged one around the other. Such an arrangement is desirable for foam projecting nozzles of large output. A small conical flaredtube 39 is concentrically arranged within the outer tubes 3i. Both the outer d inner tubes have rows of hollow projecptl fi fl which are provided in their ends with a rtures for the'projection of the water under pressure. The rows of projections communicate .with annular conduits 40, ll. The annular conduit ll of the inner smaller tube 39 communicates through a conduit 42 with theannular conduit 40 to which the water under pressure is supplied through the connection 32. The sucking in of the air and the formation of foam take place in two independent chambers; the foam formed in the two chambers unites durin?)e itisI passage through the forward part of the If the admixture of the foam former is to take place only'in the foam nozzle itself, the foam former can be mixed with the water jets projected into the nozzle in various ways. One embodiment of such foam generating nozzle is shown in Figure 7. 'Here two rows of apertured hollow projections 35 are provided on the inside of the nozzle wall, of which one row is supplied with water under pressure through the pipe 32 and conduit 13, while the other row is connected by a conduit 50 with a supply pipe 5|, preferably closable, through which the foam former is supplied. The foam former projected through the latter row of projections flows in the general direction of'the water jet, and the air sucked in,

mixes therewith and eflects the formation of foam.

Another way of supplying thefoarn former inthe nozzle isshown in Figure 8, in which-a device is shown in which the foam former is drawn oil by a by-passed portion of the water under pressure and gradually mixed with and diluted by such water, the dilute foam former solution then being led in finely dividedform into the jets of water under pressure. Here the foam former container 52 can be carried on the back and is connected'with the nozzle 3| by two hose pipes.

In the supply pipe for the water under pressure is a multi-way cook 52 (see Figures 8, 9 and 10) which with the plug II in open position allows the main current of water to pass through the main plug passage 55 to the annular conduit 33 from whence the water is projected in jets through the apertures in the projections 35 in the manner above described. A part of the water can flow into the hose pipe ISBthro'ugh a lateral bore 56 in the plug 5.4 communicating with the main passage 55. This hose 58 leads to an ejector device 59, of which the jet nozzle Bil projects into the chamber 6i.

This chamber is regulatably connected with the interior of the foam former container 52 through a cook 62. The water projected through the nozzle 60 drawsfoam former from the container 52 through the outlet 63' from the cook 62, and the foam former is entrained by the water jet; becoming intimately mixed therewith. The outlet from the ejector 59 is connected to a second entry 55 to the cock 52 by a second hose '64. As Figures 9 and 10 show, with the cock 53 in working position, the liquid coming from the ejector 58 flows through the hose 64, to the entry 65 and through a passage 66 to an outlet 61 on the other side. From here the dilute foam former solution'through a bent tube 68 reaches an atomizing nozzle 8! (Figure 8)' through which the solution is projected in finely divided form very rapid and intimate intermixing of the foam I former, already diluted, with the jets of water is effected so that a considerable output of foam is obtainable with small consumption of foam former.

The supply pipe 32 can at the same time serve as a handle for the foam generating nozzle. Ad-.

vantageously the pipe '32 can run along the near end of the nozzle at a certain distance from it,

as Figures 6 and 8 show so that the fingers can;

be accommodated in the space between.

The suction jet pump for feeding and premixing the foam former can however be located in the foam generating nozzle itself. Such an embodiment is illustrated by way of example in Figure 11. In the long nozzle tube 3|, the rear, entry end of. which is flared outwardly, three nozzles I are set in a ring; to which water under pressure is supplied through an annular conduit 33'. The conduit 33' communicates with a pipe connection 32' serving.at the same time as a handle.

From the connection 32' a branch 68' leads from a point behind the control cock 53', which the pipe I6, a

suction jet pump 59' of which the suction chamber communicates with the foam former supply pipe. 63'. The discharge pipe 64 of the jet pump 59' is arranged longitudinally in the centre of the pipe 3| and projects the water-foam former mixture against the meeting point of the inclined jetsprojected from the nozzles I0.

This arrangement has the advantage over that illustrated in Figures 8-10 that by using a suction hose the foam former can be drawn out of any desired container and raised to a certain height.

i To regulate the supplyof foam former a control cock 62' is provided in the pipe 63'.

The foam generating nozzle shown in Figures 12 and 13 has three nozzles I2 for water under pressure arranged in a ring round a nozzle tube II, which communicates with an annular conduit I3, and has a fourth centrally arranged nozzle 86 which communicates with the conduit I3 by a pipe 80.

The water under pressure is supplied to the annular conduit I3 through a pipe I6 serving as a handle and fitted with a multi-way cock I5,

to which the water hose I8 is connected by a coupling 17.. On the opposite side of the cock to screwed on water nozzle I9 is provided.

The plug 80 of the multi-way cock is provided with ducts so arranged that the water under pressure in the pipe 16 can be shut off, or allowed to flow through the connection to the foam nozzle or to the water nozzle I9.

The foam former is supplied through a separate hose 8I' which can be attached to the water hose I8 by clips 82 or other suitable means. Connection to the multi-way cock is made by a separate coupling 83 from whence the foam former flows through a separate duct-84 in the plug into a. pipe 85 leading to a central nozzle 86 concentrically arranged within the central water nozzle 81. The water under pressure is led to this nozzle 81 from the annular conduit I3 by a pipe 88. To regulate the outfiow of foam former a cone valve 89 is provided, the spindle 90 of which can be turned by a hand wheel 9| outside the tube 'II in order to regulate the flow to the nozzle 86.

be very high.

In the example shown in Figd'res 14 and the foam projecting end of the open ended foam tube II is in the form of a bend 92 having a wide outlet 93. Nozzles I2 communicating with the annular conduit I3 are provided in the tube for the water under pressure; the conduit I3 is carried upon a connection 94 which can be attached to a carrying pipe 95'by means of a coupling, by screwing or in any other suitable manner. The connection 94 is at an angle, say at'a right angle, to the axis of foam tube II. The carrying pipe 95 can be connected at its lower end by a coupling 96 with the water hose I8. The carrying pipe 95 itself can be in a single piece,-or it can consist of a plurality of pieces assembled for example-by couplings or screwing, or it can be made telescopic, in order to adapt it to the height to be reached by the foam tube 'II.

The necessary foam former can be added to the water under pressure at any desired point. It can however be supplied through a separate hose 8| and pipe 91 to a separate nozzle, 'provided in the foam tube with the pouring head, in a similar manner to that in Figures 12 and 13.

Instead of with a pouring head, the foam tube can be provided with a sprinkler head which effects distribution of the foam over a larger surface. Such a construction is illustrated in Figures 16 and 1 7. In the upper part of the space 98 to be supplied with foam 2, number of foam nozzles II with sprinkler heads 99 are distributed, the whole of the foam tubes being connected to a single supply pipe I00. In Figure 17 a sprinkler is shown for example in which the distributing device consists of inclined guide vanes 99'.

The water under pressure is supplied through 4 the pipes I02, IOI.

hand air pump; instead a bottle I09 of com pressed gas with a pressure reducing valve 0' can be used.

A part of the water branched off through the pipe I03 is led to the jet pump I04, I05 wherein the foam former arriving under pressure, is carbehind the branch I03, by which the section ofthe pipe I02 can be reduced to ensure suificient flow of water throughpipe l03 and the pump I04, I05. A second control member II 2 can be provided in pipe I02 in advance of the branch pipe I 03.

If a pump, for example a fire engine pump, is used for supplying water under pressure, the foam former can be led into the pump itself. Such an arrangement is shown by way of example in Figure 18. Here again a jet pump II 3 is provided for feeding in the foam former. The necessary water under pressure for actuating the jet pump is advantageously drawn from the pressure side that is from the outlet II4 of the pump H5 and led-through a separate pipe II! with control member H6, to the jet pump II3 to 7 led to the inlet I20 of the pump "5.

In Figure 19 there are a plurality of foam generators ISI for example three; connected to a common water supply pipe I53'by bends I52.

Each generator has near the upper funnel shaped inlet end an annular conduit I54 connected with the bend I52. supplying a number of nozzles I55 inclined towards the axisof the generator from which'jets of water emerge as can be seen from the left hand generator which is shown in section. The jets'of water under pressure meet at a point further on. in the generator setting up considerable turbulence which-with the entrained air produces foam as described earlier herein. If foam former is not already mixed with the water under pressure, a solution of foam former can be supplied through a separate pipe. In the present example a container I56 for foam former is located at a higher level,

from which foam former solution is supplied to the separate generators I 5| by a pipe I51 and branches I58. To admix the foam former, each generator I5I is provided with an axial nozzle I59 from which a jet of foam former is directed against'the meeting point of the jets of water. To distribute the foam flowing 'out of the gensprinkler heads or the like can be provided. at their lower ends. Bends having inclined guide surfaces I6I which retard the foam' and by increasing the turbulence render the bubbles finer, have been found particularly advantageous. Such a bend is illustrated in section on a larger scale in Figure 20. The foam is compelled by the guide'surfaces I H to take a' zig-zag path by in fineness'is at-- which a considerable increase tallied.

The water supply pipe I53 and the foam form er supply pipe I51 can be provided with a common control cock I62 having one duct for the water and anbther for the foam former solution. Such a cock is indicated in Figure 21 on an enlarged scale. The plug I63 of the cock I52 has one duct I64 for the water under pressure and a separate duct I65 for the foam former solution. In normal position both the pipes I53 and I51 are closed; by turning the plug through 90 the cock is opened. The plug I 63 could be connected to any suitable automatic device of well known kind which would open the cock upon-the outbreak of fire and thus set the apparatus in action.

In Figures 22 and 23 a foam generator is shown which consists of a downwardly tapering chamber III'of fiat elongated section, having at its upper end a series of water nozzles "5 connected to common water supply pipes I13; 'The nozzles are arranged opposite one another in pairs which are connected to a common supply pipe Ill. The nozzles I19 are so arranged that the emerging jets are directed against the meeting points of the water jets projected by the nozzles I15, where the foam former mixes with the water and foam is generated with the'entrained air.

In this case also, the pipe I'II can be fed by gravity from an elevated container. Obviously this example can be provided with a cock controlling both foam former and water and combined with an automatic release device which upon the outbreak of a fire sets the apparatus in action.

What I claim is:- 4

1. Method of producing a fire extinguishing foam which comprises dividing a unitary stream of quenching liquid into a plurality of relatively small free flowing converging jets whereby said stream is transformed into a stream of the liquid in finely divided form and aspirating air into and by means of said finely divided stream in the presence of a foam promoting agent.

2. Method of producing a fire extinguishing foam as defined in claim 1 in which the foam promoting agent is supplied in the form of a jet uniting with the converging jets of the quenching liquid at their meeting point.

3. Apparatus for the production of flreextinguishing foam comprising a tube having entrance erators suitable devices, for example bends I60,

and discharge ends, a conduit for quenching liquid, means adjacent the entrance end of the tube for finely subdividing the quenching liquid and projecting the stream of the resulting finely divided liquid through said tube toward the discharge end thereof, and means for mixing a'foam promoting liquid agentwith said quenching liquid comprising a nozzle, a conduit for foam promoting agent communicating with the outlet of said nozzle and a branch conduit connecting said con positioned to deliver converging jets of liquid and communicating with said conduit, for finely subdividing the quenching liquid delivered by said conduit and projecting the resulting stream of finely subdivided quenching liquid through the tube toward the'discharge end thereof, means for mixing a foam promoting agent with the quenching liquid comprising a conduit for foam promoting agent, at least one nozzle located adjacent the entrance end of the tube and adapted to pro ject a streamof the liquid delivered by said last named conduit through and toward the discharge end of said tube, and inlet means adjacent-the entrance end of said tube opening to the atmosphere. a 

